The Outsider: BOOK REVIEW

[@susanburgess820]

Agree with you ❤❤

[@kasparalmayer471]

Also, I think The Outsider is the superior title.

[@danecobain]

I loved it! I plan to read it in French at some point.

[@AuthorJamesFlynn]

Rather you than me.

[@Arven8]

Thanks, James, appreciate the thoughts. I was a huge fan of Camus in my 20s (40 years ago). The Stranger was my introduction to him, and although I liked it, it's not one of my favorites. As you say, the tone is flat, and it's not exactly action-packed. The bigger issue for me is the philosophy embedded in it. Camus was trying to articulate his sense of the absurdity and meaninglessness of life. He was a young man at the time. The book made him famous. One of the things he said about The Stranger later (with some regret, I suppose) was that he would be forever remembered for a philosophy he had left behind.

[@AuthorJamesFlynn]

Yeah, it’s basically a philosophy book.

[@Arven8]

@@AuthorJamesFlynn If you ever want to give Camus another shot, I'd recommend Lyrical and Critical Essays. It will show you the more human side of Camus. It was my favorite book for many years.

[@pavelhanek9790]

Whay does not exist can not be deprived

[@milesknightestrada3286]

Most depressing book ever written. I read it for my 13th year Literature class, and it actually made me feel very sullen, the chief traits of the character seeming to have transposed themselves onto me. Had to set the book several times to collect myself. When I told my teacher of this, she called my reaction a reminder of myself being a human - whatever that may mean. Probably won't refer to it again.

[@AuthorJamesFlynn]

I think it’s overrated as a novel.

[@philosophicsblog]

Hey James. I enjoy your reviews. I've read this in French and in English. The English translation is pretty faithful to the intent of the prose, but famously (and in the spirit of your 3.5⭐), the opening line about his mother fails to translate. In French, the word 'maman' doesn't translate well into English. We have 'mama', which is babyish and 'mother', which is prim and proper (and even more detaching). 'Maman' falls in between. This nuance (and other word choices like it) alters the timbre of the narrative. As far as excitement, this would be difficult to achieve. Perhaps the shooting scene (though I'd argue that this would weaken Merceau's character) or the court judgement scene, where perhaps the verdict could have been written as a cliffhanger, but it wouldn't have been enough anyway. As you note, this is a philosophical novella. The point is the philosophy, and he writes better prose in my opinion than his contemporary, Sartre.

[@AuthorJamesFlynn]

This is the problem with translations, isn’t it? A lot of nuances/sentiments get lost. I suppose any excitement wouldn’t fit well in the book. You’re right. But still, you’re left with a very flat read. It’s slightly overrated in my opinion.

[@mariaradulovic3203]

I hated that book, I read it in high school. Maybe I should read it again.

[@duhbigcat1848]

Why did you hate it?

[@mariaradulovic3203]

@@duhbigcat1848 I remember that I haven't found ANY sense of it. Maybe that was the point, the absurd. But I was not ready for that. But, after that I read The Plague and I enjoyed it a lot.

[@duhbigcat1848]

@@mariaradulovic3203 Yeah, the absurdity was the point. The main character was probably more aligned to reality than the phony society that punished him. The guy was not likable at all, and he paid the price of not fitting in. I agree, It wasn't a particularly enjoyable book. I really liked The Plague.

[@kasparalmayer471]

I don't get the hype for this one.